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Development and disease: how susceptibility to an emerging pathogen changes through anuran development.
Nathan A Haislip1, Matthew J Gray, Jason T Hoverman
1Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America.
Plos One
|July 30, 2011
Summary
Ranaviruses cause amphibian die-offs globally. Contrary to expectations, larval and hatchling amphibians, not metamorphs, were most susceptible, suggesting higher disease impacts than previously realized.
Area of Science:
- Herpetology
- Wildlife Pathology
- Ecology
Background:
- Ranaviruses are significant pathogens causing amphibian mortality worldwide, particularly in North America.
- Field observations link ranavirus outbreaks to amphibian metamorphosis, but controlled studies on life-stage susceptibility are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare ranavirus susceptibility across four developmental stages (embryo, hatchling, larva, metamorph) in seven anuran species.
- To test the hypothesis that metamorphosis represents the most vulnerable stage to ranavirus infection.
Main Methods:
- Seven anuran species were exposed to ranavirus at four distinct developmental stages.
- Mortality and infection prevalence were measured to assess susceptibility differences.
Main Results:
- Susceptibility varied significantly among species and developmental stages, contradicting the metamorphosis hypothesis.
- Four species showed highest susceptibility during larval or hatchling stages.
- Embryos exhibited the lowest susceptibility, likely due to egg protective layers.
Conclusions:
- Generalizations about ranavirus susceptibility in amphibians across life stages and species should be made cautiously.
- The high susceptibility of early life stages may lead to underestimation of ranavirus impacts.
- Detecting disease in larval and hatchling amphibians is challenging, potentially masking the true extent of outbreaks.
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